All through my childhood, last days of an(y) year were filled with sending greetings to friends, teachers, relatives and elders. The streets were full of small greeting tents open for ‘exhibition cum sale’. It is almost a tradition, to most of us. I still can feel the times when I had two-three rounds around ‘all’ the shops selling greeting cards, select cards according to the receiver of it depending on age, liking etc, small sketch pens spread all across the floor around me while trying to ‘choose’ the favorite color and quote for each of them. All cards posted well in advance, to be reached just in time, before the new year ! 31st night used to be more of a ‘waiting’ period, with may be, two or three channels having some ‘special’ programs and countdown for the dawn of the year. The first morning would be more respectful with elderly wishes, fruits and cakes, with friends and relatives PHYSICALLY VISITING other’s homes, nearby.
If there is anything the coming of a new year signifies, its the change of times. Sure the times have changed, for good and bad, much faster and diverse than the changing numbers from 20-00 to 20-12. No more greeting shops filling the gullies, its not a good business anymore. There are tens of channels that we end up seeing none of them with all their specials. Neither the sending of greetings. Not even many phone calls. Not too long ago it was a jammed telephone traffic for the shifting hour. Phone calls are now only for ‘privileged and priority’ people. For rest all, SMS and FB should do !
Not to mention the most important new year resolutions. Last year if I remember correctly, my post for the new year was on requesting a resolution on traffic discipline. Don’t worry, none this time 🙂
Coming to 2011-12 turnover, change hit me as well. May be, most of the changes mentioned above applies to me, except for the FB part. A typical stereotype! Little less than expected new year wishes going around this time, I do not like it personally. My contribution for the wishes is by far, minimal. (I would be compensating, though). But even otherwise, there are bigger reasons to wish and hope for a happy and prosperous new year. My 10 year old niece is worried after she came to know about this 2012 end of world stuff. I tried to reason out with some silly fundas why it will not end, though unsuccessful in convincing her. In the end all I can say to her is it, we still wish a happy new year and the whole world welcomes it, irrespective of what’s in store for us. Let’s welcome and hope a bright year, for each of the living soul out there under the sun.
I am not sure if I can recollect all the big events that happened in 2011, sort of defining, but one definite thread is visible to me. 2011 is a year of protests. It is the year when people, irrespective of creed , age or sex , came out of their comforts and stood for something they believed in, stood for a cause. The same SMS and FBs and Twitters that took the place of mute greeting cards indeed did more than just ‘wishing’. They are the prime means, a new found mass mobilizer, across the globe. It is mentioned in one of the articles that I read that, with every 10% increase in the spread of broadband, a country grows in its GDP by 1 %. I didn’t know the veracity of this statement, but the sure impact of a ‘broaderband’ is in front of us to believe and make use of.
From January 2011 when it all started in Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria, where lakhs of people came out to the streets for liberty and democracy, the cause that has been fought for almost eight centuries now ! Tahrir sqaure became a famous name, and soon the mass mobilizations became revolutions, changing the rulers and spreading in all directions to Syria, Libya, Yemen and other WANA (West Asia North Africa) countries. The happening shifted to India mid-2011, when we found another of our old-man heroes Anna Hazare to challenge the government and the parliamentary system in trying to bring an anti-corruption ‘system’ in the country. Sure its one of the biggest ‘movements’ in the recent times when it all had been closed door and invisible changes, be it information revolution or economic liberalization. Next it was the turn of US to ‘feel’ the out-pour. Without going into the reasons why they happened, the youth of the eastern US too had vented out their disrespect, though leaderless. I am surprised to know that even Russia, though late in the calender, is not missing in its entry. As late as december 2011, people came out, again in lakhs, again with the help of tweets, to protest against fraud elections. Whatever the cause and reasons , people are no more confined to their homes.
We stand for a cause, and can make a revolution. We needed Stalin and Anna so far, but may be soon, we no longer need them either. We make our own revolutions. Let 2012 bring us more closer to our goals , causes and destiny.
WorthvieW wishes a very happy 2012.
Nice One!!